Lamp ok candlestick and match-box combined



T. SHANKS.

Lamp and Match Box.

Patented Jan. 19, 1858.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SHANKS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

LAMP 0B CANDLESTICK AND MATCH-BOX COMBINED.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,158, dated January 19, 1858.

To all MhOYlL it may con cern Be it known that I, THOMAS SHANKS, of thecity and county of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented,made, and used certain new and useful Improvements in Combining Lampsand Candlesticks with Match-Boxes; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the lamp andmatch-box in combination. Fig. 9. is a sectional view of the lamp andcombined box.

The nature of my improvements consists in constructing or formingtogether as a compound device, or as a unity contrivance, a lamp andmatch-box, whereby convenience, safety. and great utility are attained.

In Fig. 1, a lamp is shown, and its base part a, a, a, u, o, rt isformed as a hollow casing, with one end open. ln this hollow base, orcasing, is fitted a drawer-like receptacle b, b, a, 7), having twodivisions or compartments c, c, c-(Z, (I, at. These compartments areseparated or formed by parallel partitions (Z (Z (Z d passing throughthe center of the receptacle b, b, 7), 7). and are sutliciently farapart to afford suitable space so as to answer as a small channel or box0, e, c, 6. This channel or box is open at the back part. and alsopartly open on top as at f Fig. 1. about one third the length.Transversely across the whole length of the front end of this receptacleor drawer, or at right angles to the channel or box 6, c, c, c, isanother receptacle or trough formation 9, g, g, Fig. 2, from half aninch to one inch wide. and into this trough is fitted a correspondingpiece, or block of wood, to the upper surface of which is attachedsandpaper or any equivalent rough substance. \Vithin the channel 0, e,c, about two-thirds its length is arranged horizontally a small rod orwire 71, h, the end extending into the drawer being turned up, or bentin form of a hook somewhat as at 2'. The end extending out through thefront of the drawer has allixed to it a small knob Fig. 1. and alsowithin the channel or box 6, c. c, is inclosed a spiral spring 1 1:, 7r,Fig. which spring may, if desired, encompass or surround the rod 71, 72,and is attached to the front of the channel or box 0 c, c, by one end,while the other end of the spring is attached to the back part of thehollow base or casing a, (I, u. a, on the inside, and the drawer t), t).h, is so connected. or inserted within the lasing or hollow base that inpulling the drawer open, it cannot be detached or drawn entirely fromout its place. It is important that the base or casing a, a, a, (a,should be sufliciently weighty to prevent the lamp turning over in thepulling out the drawer.

The design, or intention of my invention or improvements, to renderavailable readily at night time, on occasions of sickness, or in anyemergency, a light, by having matches and lamp perfectly convenient, andaccessible; as well as securing the matches in a safe place, and thusavoiding accidents which too often occur to children in their gettinghold of the matches, and eating them or igniting them. thus and invarious other ways tending to cause serious casualties. Besides, 100,having the lamp or candlestick and a match box and safety receptacleformed as one compound device or unity contrivance, there can never beany delay in hunting one or the other separate, as often occurs whendistinct or individual devices are resorted to in use. And again, by having two incombustible apartments, one can be used to contain the wholeor perfect match, while the other can be as a receptacle or depositoryfor the partly burned splint or match stick, thus avoiding the danger ofdropping or throwing the burning match stick on the floor or aboutcarelessly, whereby ignition might ensue, and from which causesaccidents have frequently occurred.

In the operation of my improvements, when a light is desired, the knobor small handle 7', is taken hold of. and in the drawing out of thedrawer, to its extent, the knob is turned sufliciently to bring the bentor book end 2', of the red It up so as to catch against the front edgeof the base or casing as in Fig. 1, thus holding the drawer in position,so as to enable the picking up a match and lighting it by rubbing it onthe rough surface at the front of the drawer, the used or partly burnedmatch-stick being deposited in another apartment than whence taken.After lighting the lamp the knob is again turned back so as to let thedrawer close itself, which self-closing is caused by the action of thespring is, is, thus keeping the drawer from slipping out and the matchessecured therein.

It is deemed useless to enter more at length upon the safety and generalutility of my improvements, as the merits thereof will be readilyunderstood.

I am well aware that match boxes or safes, and tinder receptacles havebeen applied, connected to, and arranged with illuminating apparatus;and also, that can- (llesticks have been formed with depressedreceptacles. Consequently such attachments and formations I do notclaim. But

hat I do claim as new and useful, and of my own invention and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is The construction of andproviding lamps or eandlcsticks with a hollow base or pedestal part a,a, a, a, said hollow base being combined and provided with a slidingselfclosing drawer-like arrangement, or receptacle 5, Z), b, 5, havingcompartments 0, c, c (i, (Z, (Z, inclosing chamber 6, e, e, constructed,arranged, and operated by the spring 7:, is, It, is, and catch-rod h, h,substantially for the purposes set forth, and as described.

THOMAS SHANKS. [L. 5.] \Vitnesses M. WV. MEANS, JOSEPH J. FRENCH.

